Village Council discusses zoning issues

June 30, 2013

Poland Village Council had several zoning issues on last week's agenda. One dealt with penalties for not completing work in the required timeframe of a permit.

Council members had been dealing with an issue of building permits taken out and the work not completed. A project at 12 Poland Manor Drive has gone through two permits and has done very little work to complete the renovations that were planned. The residence had been an issue since last fall when discussions on how to proceed were held.

Council approved a first reading of an ordinance that would deal with the issue. The ordinance calls for penalties for work not completed on time. It would give the zoning inspector the right to extend the time limit if there was clear evidence that it was moving forward.

If a second zoning permit were sought, it would have to go before the zoning commission and penalties could be involved.

On the 12 Poland Manor issue, council desired to take some kind of action and village attorney Anthony D'Apolito came up with a solution. He told council that the matter was no longer a zoning permit issue, but has now become a nuisance property issue because of the clutter and the unfinished work. Council held a vote and passed a motion to declare it a nuisance property. That gives the home owner 30 days to clean it up after receiving the official notice. Should it not be cleaned up, the village could take action and assess the property taxes with a lien.

Mayor Tim Sicafuse mentioned the newly formed Historic Preservation Committee. He said the members of the committee include Councilman Bill Dunnavant, Tricia Perry, Leslie Viczay, Elinor Zedaker, Dave Smith, and himself.

"We will meet next week and draft legislation for historic homes," Sicafuse said.

In other business:

Council held a first reading on the new zoning regulation definitions of what constitutes a town house.

Council held off voting on a motion to extend the hours of the records clerk by a half hour a day. The extra time was requested as there is a growing number of traffic tickets to handle. Because it was an ordinance that required a minimum of four council members to be present, the issue was tabled until the July meeting.

Zoning inspector Dave Raspanti said he would check into a complaint on Michigan Avenue concerning burning garbage late at night.

Raspanti's zoning report included the issuing of a zoning permit for Harriett Sprinkles Bakery at 82 North Main St., looking at a more descriptive fencing ordinance for the village, and a request from Yellow Creek Theater about placing a permanent pavilion up for the movies under the bridge. Raspanti said it would fall under the Ohio Department of Transportation and probably can't be built there.

Poland Village Gardeners were represented at the meeting and spoke on their plans for Celebrate Poland. They informed council that they would have a table set up with kids games and fun items such as glow sticks, glider airplanes and the popular L.E.D. glowing fangs. They will be selling the items with all proceeds being used for the Village's gardens.